Geranium plant named ‘Carol’

ABSTRACT

A distinct cultivar of Geranium plant named ‘Carol’, characterized by its compact plant habit; numerous purple-colored flowers; and long flowering period.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Geraniumplant, botanically known as Geranium cinereum, and hereinafter referredto by the cultivar name Carol.

The new Geranium originated from a cross-pollination of two unidentifiedselections of Geranium cinereum, not patented. The new Geranium wasdiscovered by the Inventor in 1994 in Newport, England. Plants of thenew Geranium differ primarily from plants of the unidentified parentalselections in flower color.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by divisions in Newport,England since 1997, has shown that the unique features of this newGeranium are stable and reproduced true to type in successivegenerations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the cultivar Carol have not been observed under all possibleenvironmental and cultural conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhatwith variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity,daylength, irrigation amount and frequency, and/or fertilizer ratewithout, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Carol’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Carol’ as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Compact plant habit.

2. Numerous purple-colored flowers.

3. Long flowering period.

In side-by-side comparisons conducted by the Inventor in Newport,England, plants of the new Geranium are more floriferous and flower fora longer period of time than plants of the Geranium cinereum cultivarBallerina, not patented. In addition, plants of the new Geranium havepurple-colored flowers whereas plants of the cultivar Ballerina havelight pink-colored flowers.

In side-by-side comparisons conducted by the Inventor in Newport,England, plants of the new Geranium are more compact and have smallerflowers than plants of an unidentified selection of Geraniumpsilostemon,not patented.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Geranium, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Geranium.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of atypical one-year old flowering plant of ‘Carol’ grown in the outdoorlandscape.

The photograph at the top of the second sheet is a close-up view of atypical open flower of ‘Carol’.

The photograph at the bottom of the second sheet is a close-up view oftypical leaves of ‘Carol’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used. Plants used for the followingdescription were about one year old and grown under outdoor fieldconditions which closely approximate commercial production conditionsduring the spring and summer in Lisserbroek, The Netherlands.

Botanical classification: Geranium cinereum cultivar Carol.

Parentage: Cross-pollination of two unidentified selections of Geraniumcinereum, not patented.

Propagation:

Type cutting.—By divisions.

Time to initiate roots.—About 20 days at 18° C.

Root description.—Thick, somewhat fleshy, brown in color.

Plant description:

Form.—Perennial flowering plant; spreading, mounded and prostrate growthhabit. Compact plant habit; appropriate for 1.7 to 2-liter containers.

Crop time.—After rooting, about 20 to 30 weeks are required to producefinished flowering plants in 17-cm containers.

Plant height.—About 10 to 15 cm.

Plant diameter.—About 25 cm.

Vigor.—Moderately vigorous.

Lateral branch description.—Number per plant: About 4. Length: About 12cm. Diameter: About 2.5 mm. Internode length: About 4 cm. Texture, upperand lower surfaces: Densely tomentose. Color: Upper surface: 178A to176A. Lower surface: 144A.

Stipule description.—Quantity: Two stipules per internode. Length: About4 mm. Width: About 2 mm. Shape: Lanceolate. Texture: Pubescent. Color:137A to 137B.

Foliage description.—Leaves opposite, simple, generally symmetrical, andlong-persisting. Quantity per lateral branch: About 6. Length: About 3cm. Width: About 3 cm. Shape: Palmately lobed. Apex: Acute. Base:Sagittate. Margin: Deeply serrate to incised. Texture, upper and lowersurfaces: Densely tomentose; hairs short, less than 0.1 mm in length.Venation pattern: Palmate. Petiole: Length: About 3 to 5 cm. Diameter:About 1 mm. Color: Young foliage, upper surface: 137A. Young foliage,lower surface: 138A to 138B. Mature foliage, upper surface: 137A. Maturefoliage, lower surface: 138A. Venation, upper surface: 137A. Venation,lower surface: 138A. Petiole: 143A to 143B.

Flower description:

Appearance.—Single rounded cupped to almost flat flowers with fivepetals with usually two per lateral stem. Flowers not persistent.

Quantity of flowers.—About 10 flowers per lateral stem.

Natural flowering season.—Long flowering period, summer through fall inthe Netherlands; flowering continuous.

Fragrance.—None detected.

Flower longevity.—About 4 days.

Flower size.—Depth: About 8 mm. Diameter: About 3 cm.

Flower buds (about five days before opening).—Length: About 6 mm.Diameter: About 5 mm. Shape: Ovoid. Color: 141A.

Petals.—Length: About 1.8 cm. Width: About 1.4 cm. Shape: Broadlyobovate. Apex: Rounded to retuse. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire.Texture: Somewhat rugose; dull. Color: When opening, upper surface: 78A.When opening, lower surface: 78B. Fully opened, upper surface: 74B to78A; interveinal areas towards petal base, close to 155D; veins andbase, close to 79A. Fully opened, lower surface: 74B to 78B.

Sepals.—Quantity: Five. Calyx height: About 6 mm. Calyx diameter (widestpoint): About 1.5 cm. Calyx shape: Rotate, slightly cupped. Sepal shape:Ovate to elliptic; apex, mucronate; margin, entire. Texture: Uppersurface: Smooth. Lower surface and margins: Densely tomentose. Color:Upper surface: 141B. Lower surface: 141A.

Peduncle.—Length: About 2.8 cm. Angle: Erect to about 25° from vertical.Strength: Strong. Color: 144A.

Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity: Ten. Anther shape: Reniform;dorsifixed. Anther length: About 2 mm. Anther color: Close to 202A.Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen color: Green brown. Pistils: Quantity:Ten. Pistil length: About 3.5 mm. Style length: About 3.2 mm. Stylecolor: Close to 71B. Stigma color: 71B. Ovary color: 144C to 145A.

Seed description.—Seed development has not been observed.

Disease resistance: Plants of the new Geranium have not been noted to beresistant to pathogens common to Geranium.

Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Geranium are tolerant totemperatures from 15 to 40° C.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Geranium plant named‘Carol’, as illustrated and described.